A major nationwide strike called Bharat Bandh is planned. A coalition of 10 central trade unions, along with farmers’ and rural workers’ organisations, is organising a nationwide general strike. Originally planned for May 20, the strike was deferred to July 9 due to the “prevailing situation” across the country.
Bharat Bandh : 25 Crore Workers To Participate In Strike
Why In News
- A major nationwide strike called Bharat Bandh is planned. A coalition of 10 central trade unions, along with farmers’ and rural workers’ organisations, is organising a nationwide general strike. Originally planned for May 20, the strike was deferred to July 9 due to the “prevailing situation” across the country.
- The organisers expect participation from over 25 crore workers across formal and informal sectors. In addition to the strike, unions will hold large demonstrations and rallies in state capitals, district headquarters, and major industrial hubs on July 9.
- In The strike will have nationwide coverage and is expected to affect both urban and rural areas across India. Key locations include industrial clusters, state capitals, district centres, and public sector offices.
Who Has Called Bharat Bandh
- The strike is being led by a joint platform of the following 10 major trade unions:
- Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
- All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
- Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)
- Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
- All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC)
- Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC)
- Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) ..
- All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU)
- Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)
- United Trade Union Congress (UTUC)
- Additionally, farmer unions under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and various agricultural workers’ organisations have pledged support.
- The only major central union not supporting the bandh is the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which is affiliated to the RSS.
- “Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country,”. “The government has ignored our 17-point demand list and hasn’t even called the annual labour conference in the last 10 years.”
Why Are Workers Going On Strike
- According to the unions, the strike is a response to policies they describe as pro-corporate, anti-worker, and harmful to farmers and ordinary people.
- They are protesting the implementation of the four labour codes, which they say undermine collective bargaining rights, increase working hours, make it harder to form or sustain unions, and decriminalise violations of labour laws by employers. The unions also oppose growing contractualisation and privatisation of jobs and the lack of increase in public sector recruitment or wages despite rising costs of living.
- Union leaders have said that there has been no serious government response to their 17-point charter of demands, which includes scrapping the new labour codes, expanding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to 200 days of work per year, reinstating the old pension scheme, and strengthening protections for workers in both organised and unorganised sectors.
- Farmers’ groups have also joined the protest, arguing that government policies have worsened rural distress.
- They point to rising unemployment, high prices of essential goods, and cuts in health, education, and welfare budgets as reasons for their support.
- Additionally, unions have raised concerns over what they describe as misuse of constitutional institutions to target dissent, new state laws restricting protests such as the the Public Security Bill in Maharashtra, attempts to disenfranchise migrant workers in Bihar, and broader threats to citizenship rights.
What’s Likely To Be Affected
- Organisers have informed that the Bharat Bandh could disrupt a wide range of services. Banking and financial services are likely to be affected, as public sector bank employees and cooperative banking staff are expected to participate, which may impact branch operations, cheque clearing, and customer services.
- Public transport could also be hit, with state buses, taxis, and some app-based cab services facing disruptions or delays. Mining and heavy industry, including coal, steel, and mineral sectors, have confirmed that many workers will join the strike.
- Government offices and public sector units may see reduced staffing and slower operations. However, schools, colleges, and most private offices are expected to remain open, but commuters should be prepared for transport delays. So far, there is no formal announcement of a railway strike, but protests near stations could cause localised disruptions.
